Meghan Markle’s Dad Says He Won’t Attend Her Wedding After All

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, who was to walk his daughter down the aisle on Saturday, told TMZ Monday that he won‘t attend the May 19 ceremony after all.

Markle said he made his decision after the backlash that ensued when The Mail on Sunday published photos of him, apparently preparing for the wedding, which the news source claims have earned up to £100,000. Talking to TMZ, Markle acknowledged that the photos were “stupid and hammy.” On top of this, TMZ says Markle suffered a heart attack six days ago but checked himself out so that he could attend the wedding. Despite that, Markle said he has decided not to cross the pond after all because he does not “want to embarrass the royal family or his daughter,” in TMZ’s words.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said in a statement, “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding. She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”

TMZ’s Sean Mandell told Vanity Fair Monday afternoon, “I spoke to Thomas Markle today, we have both texted and had a phone call. He told me that he had a heart attack six days ago and he is not going to be at the wedding. He has had health issues and he’s devastated by what’s happened, and he has spoken to Meghan to apologize to her.”

Friends of Meghan’s say she’s utterly crushed, and that they expect her mother, Doria Ragland, to walk her down the aisle on Saturday.

Seventy-three-year-old Thomas Markle, who lives a quiet existence in Rosarito, Mexico, made news after photos of him preparing for the wedding (looking at landmarks of Britain, Googling his daughter’s wedding online, and trying on a suit) surfaced. Those images are now known to be staged photos; Markle’s half sister, Samantha,has taken credit for the idea.

“The bad press over my father doing staged photos is my fault,” Samantha wrote on Twitter to Kensington Palace Monday. “The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family. We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money.”

Kensington Palace announced in an official press release on May 4 that both Markle and Ragland would attend the wedding, and that Markle would walk his daughter down the aisle. “Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion,” the announcement said.